SB0771: GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION (Date Completed: 2-18-14)

FY 2014-15 JUDICIARY BUDGET S.B. 771: GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION

Senate Bill 771 (as introduced) Vehicle for Governor’s Recommendation line items is Senate Bill 837

Committee: Appropriations

FY 2013-14 Year-to-Date Gross Appropriation.....................................................................

$283,414,100

Changes from FY 2013-14 Year-to-Date:
1. Regionalization and Expansion of Drug and DWI Courts. Governor recognized the ability to access funding for grants to increase the number of drug courts and DWI/sobriety courts with $0 GF/GP. Funding would also be used to encourage the regionalization of DWI/sobriety courts.	1,375,000
2. Expand Mental Health Diversion Program. The funding, $1.7 million GF/GP, would provide for a mental health program which would use a multi-agency approach to improve outcomes for persons with serious mental illness. The added resources would seek to prevent repeated hospitalizations or incarceration of these individuals.	1,730,000
3. Trial Court Performance Innovations Fund. The fund, $1.0 million GF/GP provides incentives to courts to become early adopters of best practices such as performance indicators and provide seed money for projects that improve court efficiency. The amount is unchanged from FY 2014, but is moved to an individual one-time line item.	0
4. Implementation of Case Management System. The SCAO is leading the implementation of a new unified case management information system called Michigan Court System (MiCS). $3.5 million was moved out of one-time with a corresponding $4.1 million amount moved to an on-going line item.	634,300
5. SADO Staff Preservation. State Appellate Defender Office (SADO) has Federal grant funding 3.0 FTEs. The Governor proposed using $350,000 GF/GP funds to enable the office to continue these positions.	0
6. Judgeship Attrition Savings. In accordance with the 2011 Judicial Resource Recommendation, the Legislature passed a package of bills reducing approximately 40 judgeships by attrition; associated with these reductions the Governor reflected GF/GP savings that will be achieved by the attrition of 5.0 judgeships.	(563,000)
7. Align State with Federal Court Interpretation Rules. In order to ensure continuation of certain Federal funding the Governor proposes investment to make certain the State complies with court interpretation for those with limited English ability $245,000 GF/GP.	245,000
8. Indigent Defense Commission. Provides administrative staffing for the commission $1,000,000 GF/GP.	1,000,000
9. Economic Adjustments. Includes $278,900 reduction in Gross and $226,500 reduction in GF/GP for OPEB and $1,926,600 increase in Gross and $1,631,800 increase in GF/GP for other economic adjustments.	1,647,700

Total Changes.....................................................................................................................	$6,069,000
FY 2014-15 Governor's Recommendation...........................................................................	$289,483,100

The changes show the differences between the schedule of programs proposed by the Governor and the prior-year line items.

FY 2014-15 JUDICIARY BUDGET BOILERPLATE HIGHLIGHTS

Changes from FY 2013-14 Year-to-Date:

1. Payments to Locals. The Trial Court Innovations Fund, one-time funding associated with incentivizing best practices are both considered payments to locals. (Sec. 11-201)

2. Deletions. In keeping with the condensed structure of the Governor's budget, the following current-year language sections were not included: 204, 212, 306, 309, 310, 312, 321, 323, 1201 and 1202. Most were proposed to be deleted in last year's Governor's Recommendation but were subsequently added back by the Legislature. The subjects of these sections included not taking disciplinary action against an employee for communicating with the Legislature; records retention process; assistance to local trial courts in improving judgment collection; reporting requirements for mental health courts, drug courts, the Parental Rights Restoration Act, and out-of-state placements of juveniles; the creation of a legal self-help website; and two sections dealing with legislative intent concerning appropriations process and disclosure of legacy costs.

3. Definitions. The Governor eliminated a number of definitions for Federal agencies as well as some terms specific to appropriations. (Sec. 11-203)

4. Out of State Travel. The Governor revised the section regarding out of state travel reporting; the language changes are mainly technical, but would no longer require that the total transportation and related costs be reported. Instead, the language would state that the report includes transportation and related costs of each travel occurrence. (Sec. 11-215)

5. Legacy Costs Reporting. Governor proposed a new section stating the total legacy costs as well as the separately stated legacy pension and retiree health care costs. (Sec. 11-224)

6. Court of Claims Funding Identification. The Governor revised the section detailing the amount the Judiciary has identified for the reimbursement to the Court of Claims. (Sec. 11-303)

7. Mental Health Diversion Council. Governor proposed a new section stating the amounts appropriated for mental health courts and diversion services is intended to be used upon the recommendations from the Mental Health Diversion Council. (Sec. 11-307)

8. Swift-and-Sure Sanctions – Revise. The Governor's proposed revision would have no longer have the court which receives funding provide the report on the Swift-and-Sure Sanction program. Instead, the Governor proposes that the State Court Administrative Office provide the report. (Sec. 11-320(2))

Date Completed: 2-18-14 Fiscal Analyst: John Maxwell

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.